Hi everyone!
I’m heading to Japan this September for my first trip, just a bit over three weeks. I’ll be mixing Tokyo, Kansai, and Hiroshima. I also have a 2-day academic event in Chiba in the middle of the trip, so I worked the schedule around that. For context: I really enjoy theme parks, so Disneyland and DisneySea are non-negotiable (USJ express pass is way too expensive so I’ll skip it). I’ll be using the Shinkansen for city transfers.
Here’s what I’ve planned so far (with rough hours filled in):
Day 1 – Fri Sept 12: Departure
• 00:55 – Flight from Bogotá
Day 2 – Sat Sept 13: Arrival in Tokyo
• 14:30 – Land at Narita
• 19:00 – Check in at Tokyo Hostel
• 20:00 – Light dinner + stroll around Shinjuku
Day 3 – Sun Sept 14: Tokyo (Design + Odaiba)
• 09:00 – Design exhibition
• 12:30 – Lunch
• 14:00 – Small Worlds Tokyo
• 17:30 – Odaiba + teamLab Planets
• 20:00 – Dinner
Day 4 – Mon Sept 15: Tokyo (Mt. Fuji Day Trip or City Day)
• Option A: Mt. Fuji day trip (depart 07:30, return ~18:00)
• Option B: Stay in Tokyo – Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills, Shibuya evening
Day 5 – Tue Sept 16: Tokyo Disneyland
• 08:00 – Tokyo Disneyland (all day)
• 20:30 – Return
Day 6 – Wed Sept 17: Tokyo (Event + Onsen Evening)
• 09:00–13:00 – Academic event in Chiba
• 14:30 – Onsen in Tokyo
• 19:30 – Dinner in Shinjuku
Day 7 – Thu Sept 18: Tokyo (Event + Asakusa/Ueno)
• 09:00–13:00 – Academic event
• 14:00 – Asakusa + Ueno Park
• 19:00 – Dinner
Day 8 – Fri Sept 19: Tokyo (Ghibli + Kichijoji)
• 10:00 – Ghibli Museum (pre-booked)
• 13:00 – Inokashira Park / Kichijoji
• 17:00 – Nakano Broadway
• 20:00 – Dinner
Day 9 – Sat Sept 20: Kyoto
• 09:00 – Shinkansen to Kyoto
• 12:00 – Check in at Kyoto Hostel
• 14:00 – Nishiki Market, Gion walk
• Evening – Pontocho dinner
Day 10 – Sun Sept 21: Nara Day Trip
• 09:00 – Todai-ji + Deer Park
• Evening return
Day 11 – Mon Sept 22: Uji + Nintendo Museum
• 09:00 – Byōdō-in Temple + tea tasting
• 13:00 – Nintendo Museum
• Evening free
Day 12 – Tue Sept 23: Kyoto
• 09:00 – Nenbutsu-ji + Arashiyama (bamboo grove, monkey park)
• Evening return
Day 13 – Wed Sept 24: Osaka
• 09:00 – Shinkansen to Osaka
• 11:00 – Osaka Castle
• 16:00 – Dotonbori dinner + neon lights
• Stay in Nipponbashi
Day 14 – Thu Sept 25: Osaka (FREE DAY)
• Open day — could be Osaka city, a side trip, or just rest
Day 15 – Fri Sept 26: Osaka (Himeji)
• 08:30 – Himeji Castle + gardens
• Evening in Osaka
Day 16 – Sat Sept 27: Osaka
• Umeda Sky Building, Kuromon Market, shopping
Day 17 – Sun Sept 28: Hiroshima
• Morning Shinkansen to Hiroshima
• 12:00 – Peace Memorial Park + Museum
• Evening stroll Hondori
Day 18 – Mon Sept 29: Miyajima
• Ferry to Itsukushima Shrine
• Ropeway Mt. Misen
• Evening return
Day 19 – Tue Sept 30: Back to Tokyo
• Travel day, light evening stroll in Shinjuku
Day 20 – Wed Oct 1: Tokyo (Day Trip?)
• Option: Nikko or Kamakura
• Evening free
Day 21 – Thu Oct 2: Tokyo DisneySea
• All-day DisneySea
Day 22 – Fri Oct 3: Tokyo (Sanrio + City)
• Morning: Sanrio Puroland
• Afternoon: Akihabara / Ikebukuro shopping
Day 23 – Sat Oct 4: Departure
• Morning free in Tokyo
• 16:00 – Flight back to Bogotá
Questions for feedback:
1. Does this feel balanced, or am I cramming too much? Would you drop any activities? Less time in any city or cool day trips? Stay at other cities like Himeji?
2. I now have Sept 25 as a free day in Osaka. Would you:
• Add one more day to Kyoto (more temples, maybe Fushimi Inari)?
• Give an extra day to Hiroshima (stay overnight in Miyajima)?
• Or even fit in a quick overnight in Fukuoka?
3. Any food spots or must-sees I’m missing near these areas?
Thanks a lot in advance!
by mateoacd2912